Save businesses in Fruita

After seeing the posters around town, "Save the Tomato" and watching last evening's 10 p.m. news about the Fruita business being in limbo due to a doubling of their rent along with the cost of maintance and property taxes, then reading the story "Stewed Tomato" in the June 8, 2009 Daily Sentinel, I began to wonder.

1. Why wouldn't a supposedly benevolent organization want to help its community in these times of rotten economics by helping keep it alive for the sake of the tax revenue generated for the community?

2. What exactly is the organization about? What is their mission?

So I went to Google and I will go to other sources, but for time-sake, I did find the following along with another very interesting site (www.prepare-ye-the-way.com/freemasonry1.htm), one I intend to read much closer

"The Masonic Service Association of North America (MSANA) was formed in 1919 to provide services to its member Grand Lodges that they would find difficult to provide for themselves. Thus the national voice that the MSA has is dedicated to Service to the Masonic community.

The primary functions and activities of the MSANA are:

• Disaster Relief - since 1923 the MSA has collected and forwarded funds for disasters around the world.


• Education/Information Publications - the MSA has a free catalog of publications, bulletins and other materials available.


• Masonic Information Center - to provide information on Freemasonry to Masons and non-Masons alike and to respond to critics of Freemasonry.


• Hospital Visitation Program - provides assistance and service to our sick or wounded veterans.


• Service - The Masonic Service Association of North America is a servant of Freemasonry. Formed of and supported by Grand Lodges, it is a voice that they can move to action, that the great heart of the Fraternity be made manifest and that the will of a united Craft may be done."

If "service" is truly a mission, why not iron out this rent business honestly, and with concern for the entire City of Fruita? When rents get out of hand, we see buildings sit empty. This is not Aspen or Vail. It is Fruita.

With three store fronts already empty on Fruita's main street, why would we want another?
Another closing could actually cause others to take that fatal step and close their doors. Question blaring out seems to be just how much do you care about Fruita and its community?